Here's a nice pic of an undisturbed fox snake (Elaphe gloydi). I estimated this one to be about 5 feet long. They will mimic a rattlensnake by coiling up, vibrating the tip of the tail and hissing and striking. They can put on a pretty convincing display, however the yellowish background colour, orange head, large size, round pupils and lack of rattle are good id features. On closer inspection they differ in belly markings (massasauga almost black and fox a very checkered appearance), the fox snake has no heat-sensing pit between the eye and nostril and the massasauga is genarally calmer than the fox snake when approached. They are a "threatened" species here in Southwestern Ontario. So is the massasauga.

Cheers,

Russ

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